Though the movie might not be as good as fans remember according to Reddit, there are many fan theories to suggest otherwise. If there’s any movie that was literally made to have people mull over its meaning, it’s Donnie Darko.

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Given how Donnie Darko mixes time travel, parallel universes, and ghosts from the future, it is generally is mysterious and thought-provoking, and it’s the theories surrounding it that help make it great. With the movie now being out for 20 years, it has given many obsessive fans enough time to fully flesh out a few fan theories that are so out there, but at the same time make so much sense and are almost impossible to fault.

Donnie Wanted To Die

Donnie and Gretchen talk outside at night in Donnie Darko

With the movie being so confusing that even Jake Gyllenhaal still doesn’t understand it, some theorists have come up with some extremely plausible explanations for what ultimately doesn’t seem to make much sense in the movie. One of the biggest questions fans have about the movie is why Donnie didn’t send the artifact to a different location so that he didn’t die.

But this fan theory might have cleared that up, as it explains that the teenager actually wanted to die and that he knew that the artifact killing him was his destiny, so he just let it happen.

He Was Dead The Whole Time

Donnie sits on his car and looks at the sky at the top of a hill in Donnie Darko

There’s a fan theory that suggests that the main character was dead the whole time for every single movie in the world, but it actually makes a lot of sense when it comes to Donnie Darko. The theory goes on to explain that Donnie was too heavily linked to Earth due to wanting to experience something he never had.

The Reddit user claims that Donnie was traveling within God’s channel, which allowed him to see into the future and what his life would be like if he didn’t die, and then he got to experience that what he never had -- existence and love.

It’s A Time Loop

Donnie stabs a portal in Donnie Darko

Though the time travel movie flopped at the box office, it has become such a massive cult hit, and that’s largely thanks in part to how unique it is as a time travel movie.

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But this theory posits that it isn’t all that unique and that it’s actually a similar narrative to Groundhog Day, as it explains that Donnie is stuck in a time loop, just like Phil from the classic '80s movie. It also explains the moment when Donnie looks up at the sky and laughs, as he knows he survived the last loop, even though he doesn’t completely remember everything.

Grandma Death Was Also A Living Receiver

Grandma Death whispering in Donnie's ear in Donnie Darko

This theory suggests that just like Donnie Darko, Grandma Death was a living receptor too. But unlike Donnie, Grandma Death survived after saving the universe. This theory explains a lot of the mystery surrounding the character, as her survival in the tangent universe might not have led to her death, but it could be what led to her to losing her mind.

And it also explains how she wrote the book too, specific pages of which can even be read in the director’s cut of the movie.

It’s An Inverted Version Of It’s A Wonderful Life

The family celebrating Christmas on It's A Wonderful Life.

In what is one of the oddest theories about the sci-fi movie, it argues that Donnie Darko could in actual fact be an inverted version of It’s A Wonderful Life. The theory actually makes a lot of sense, as in the classic Christmas movie, an angel shows a man how terrible his friends’ and family’s lives would have been if he hadn't been born.

In Donnie Darko, it’s almost the opposite, as Frank, a man dressed as a creepy-looking bunny rabbit, who could be perceived as a demon, shows Donnie how bad everybody’s life would be if he continues to live. Comparing it to one of the most uplifting movies of all time makes Donne Darko seem even more nihilistic, if that was even possible.

Donnie Is A Representation Of Christ

Donnie stands on a porch during Halloween in Donnie Darko

Along with the character being dead the whole time, the idea of a movie being a biblical allegory is another common fan theory surrounding most movies. But again, this one mind-blowingly makes so much sense.

The theory explains that Donnie Darko is a Christ-like figure, as he sacrifices himself to save everyone around him. The theory also claims that Frank the bunny is God himself, as he is the one who convinces Donnie to do the things he does. The jaw-dropping part of the theory is that bunnies are a symbol of Easter, the day on which Christ rises back from the dead.

Frank Is God

Donnie, Gretchen, and Frank sit in an empty movie theatre in Donnie Darko

Being one of the many weird incarnations of bunnies on the big screen, as he looks almost demonic, it’s clear to even the most confused viewer that he must be some kind of non-human entity.

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Though the idea of Frank being God is explained in the theory that Donnie is the representation of Christ, another theory about Frank being God comes the closest to all but confirming it. The theorist notes that after asking if portals can be found in the real world, Donnie’s scientist teacher responds by saying, “highly unlikely, that would take an act of God.” Later on in the movie, Frank opens a portal in the almost empty movie theatre, meaning that he must be a god.

It’s A Prequel To The Matrix

Donnie looking at the camera in Donnie Darko

This Redditor unleashes one of the most creative fan theories ever, and though there’s no way it’s true, it’s a lot of fun to imagine. The theory goes that Donnie Darko is the previous iteration of the One before Neo. They actually back up their argument well, as both of Donnie and Neo’s powers are almost completely aligned.

But following that, everything becomes a little more of a stretch, as it explains that Frank is a human plugged into the Matrix, Grandma Death is a program like the Oracle, and Gretchen is Trinity.

The Core Consequences Of The Movie Is A Result Of Drunk Driving

Donnie sits at a school desk in class in Donnie Darko

Though the movie is full of dense subject matter, such as time travel, parallel universes, and even ghosts, this theorist believes that the real meaning behind the movie is something as grounded as drunk driving.

They note that the Middlesex Halloween Carnival at the beginning of the movie is sponsored by Middlesex M.A.D.D., which stands for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. And though it is never explicitly mentioned that he was drunk, Frank runs over Gretchen at the end of the movie. It’s safe to assume he was drinking under the influence, especially considering he was picking up more beer for a party.

Gretchen Is Grandma Death

Gretchen and Donnie lean their heads against each other in Donnie Darko

Though Grandma Death’s real name is Roberta Sparrow, completely different to Gretchen Ross, one theorist thinks they’re the same person. They came to that conclusion due to the fact that they believe Gretchen is also in a time loop, which ended when she was hit by a car.

And Grandma Death has been in the time loop for decades, as she has been avoiding getting hit by cars all this time. There is some evidence that gives credence to the theory, as Sparrow almost gets hit by a car on several occasions throughout the movie.

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